Facts & Health Tips
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Fact Sheet for Clients and Families
Important information about flu:
- Every flu season is unique. Last year’s vaccine
won’t give protection this year.
- About 20,000 Americans die each year from the flu. 114,000
were hospitalized with serious illness.
- Rates of illness are highest among children, but rates
of serious illness and death are highest among those 65
and over.
Clinical signs and symptoms of Flu:
- Flu viruses are spread through coughing and sneezing
of infected persons.
- Symptoms may start 1-4 days after exposure to someone
with the Flu.
- Persons can be infectious before the Flu symptoms start.
- Typical S&S include fever, muscle aches, tiredness,
headache, nonproductive cough, sore throat and runny nose.
- Flu can persist up to 2 weeks and can make chronic illnesses
worse.
Vaccination is the most effective way to stop Flu from spreading.
- The recommended time for getting a vaccination is October-November
to prevent getting the Flu. But you can get vaccinated
in December or later as long as vaccine is available.
- Because young, otherwise healthy children are at increased
risk for influenza-related hospitalization, vaccination
of children aged 6-23 months is encouraged when feasible.
- Vaccination of children up to 6 months with certain medical
conditions continues to be strongly recommended.
Persons who should be vaccinated include:
- Persons who are over 50.
- Residents of long term care, assisted living, and senior
housing facilities.
- Persons who are chronically ill or immunocompromised.
- Children and teenagers (6 months to 18 years) who are
receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore may be
at risk for developing Reye’s syndrome after having
the Flu.
- Persons who are in close contact with any of the above.
- Healthcare workers should be vaccinated to stop the spread
of disease from patient to patient.
Persons who should NOT be vaccinated:
- Persons known to be allergic to eggs should not be vaccinated
without first consulting a physician.
- Persons with illness causing fevers should not usually
be vaccinated until their symptoms have abated.
Side effects and adverse reactions:
- Flu vaccine contains noninfectious killed viruses and
cannot cause the Flu.
- Coincidental respiratory disease unrelated to the flu
vaccine can occur after vaccination.
Possible side effects include:
- Soreness at the site of injection
- Fever, malaise, muscle aches and other signs of illness
- These reactions may begin 6-12 hours after vaccination
and can persist for 1-2 days.
THE “HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010” OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE
VACCINATION COVERAGE FOR 90% OF PERSONS AGED 65 YEARS AND
OVER!
Thank you for your efforts to work toward this goal!
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